Aware of the challenge

Notts County manager John Sheridan says he is aware of the threat posed by Boreham Wood in the Emirates FA Cup first-round clash this Sunday.

The Magpies travel to Meadow Park looking to progress from the first round of the competition for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

Having lost to non-league opposition in the first round against Salford City last year, the manager is keen to ensure history does not repeat itself.

He said: "I'm expecting a really tough game and we're preparing for a really tough game. We've watched them and they're going well in their league.

"You're expected to win but it doesn't always work out like that in the FA Cup. Underdogs always seem to raise their game and there will be upsets where teams from higher divisions lose to teams in lower divisions. We have to make sure that we are not one of them.

"It is my job to keep us focused on ourselves because I know if we perform at the level we're capable of then we will get the result we're after."

Notts come into the cup tie on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in the league and two good performances against Portsmouth and Luton, two fellow promotion contenders.

And Sheridan wants his team to carry that good form into the cup this weekend.

"I've told the players that you can't go into the game being lethargic," he said. "We have to go in and treat it with the same mindset we had from the games with Portsmouth and Luton.

"This is a big game for Boreham Wood and, like us, they'll be wanting to get into the next round to give themselves a chance of getting a big team and a good payday, which is what lower league teams do in this competition."

The manager revealed that his trio of loan players - Louis Laing, Vadaine Oliver and Aaron Collins - have all been given permission to play in the competition by their parent clubs and are available for selection, but Jon Stead remains absent with an injury that is expected to keep him out of action until Christmas.